DMBQ

DMBQ
Background information
Origin Tokyo, Japan
Genres Classic rock
Hard rock
Years active 1995 – Present
Labels Music Mine
Members Shinji Masuko
Toru Mastui
Ryuichi Watanabe
Shinji Wada
Past members Yuka Yoshimura
Mana Nishiura

DMBQ is a Japanese rock band from Tokyo, whose name stands for Dynamite Masters Blues Quartet.[1] They are heavily influenced by British and American rock music of the early 1970s, especially bands such as The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Deep Purple, and Led Zeppelin.

Shinji Masuko is a well-known journalist in Japan who has regular columns in several music, pornography and subculture magazines. He is a younger brother of Naozumi Masuko who is a member of Dohatsuten.

Yuka Yoshimura belonged to OOIOO under the name "Yoshico" at the same time as DMBQ until 2003, and participated in Hatsuiku Status which was temporarily formed by Shiina Ringo, and now a member in CATSUOMATICDEATH, METALCHICKS.

History

DMBQ at AS220 in Providence, Rhode Island in 2008

DMBQ was formed in Hokkaido in 1989. The founding members were Shinji Masuko (vocals/guitar), Ryuuichi Watanabe (bass), and Yuka Yoshimura (drums). They began performing in Tokyo in early 1990 and quickly gained notoriety for their psychedelic live performances.

In 1995, their debut album "DYNAMITE MASTERS BLUES QUARTET" was released.

In 1997, Toru Matsui (guitar) became a member of the band.

In 1999, they contracted with "PARCO/Colomubia" and made their major label debut.

In 2002, they contracted with "avex trax".

In 2004, they were supposed to start their first America tour in June, but Yoshimura left the band just before embarking, and Mana Nishiura (a.k.a. China, formerly of Shonen Knife became her replacement behind the kit.

In 2005, they contracted with the American label "Estrus/Touch And Go", and toured in the United States.

On November 4, 2005, while driving to a show at New York City's "Club Exit," Mana Nishiura died when another vehicle crossed lanes and struck the band's van in southern New Jersey.[2]

After recovering from their injuries, DMBQ decided to go right back to the US (west coast only) for another mini-tour.

In February, 2006, Shinji Wada formally assumed DMBQ's drummer duties.

Personnel

Current members

Former members

Other works

Tompei & Bishop

The rock band which Tompei (Masuko) and Bishop (Matsui) formed.

Hydro-Guru

The garage blues unit which Masuko and Yoshimura formed.

Masuko's work with Boredoms

In 2004 Masuko became a member of Boredoms, in which he assumes live tuning and maintenance duties of the seven neck guitar instruments Sevena, which he built to Yamantaka Eye's specifications. Shinji has built two versions of this instrument, the first being made of seven Fender Telecaster guitars connected together, and the second being made of seven custom steel guitars. The instrument is played as a percussion instrument by Eye, who either strikes the individual necks of the instrument with drum sticks or strikes many of them at once with a staff. The instruments are connected to a mixing console and are played through a Marshall guitar amp. Due to the ferocity with which Eye plays the instruments, Masuko can be seen behind the Sevenas constantly replacing and tuning broken strings throughout a Boredoms live performance.

Partial discography

Year Title Label + Catalog Number
1995 Dynamite Masters Blues Quartet Less Than TV
1996 EXP Less Than TV ch-24
1997 COG
1998 Fable of Thinnerlemon Nanophonica MKCL-2002
1999 I Know Your Sweet
2000 Jinni
2001 Annular Music
2001 Resonated (remix album)
2002 Phalanges
2003 The Cold One
2004 Esoteric Black Hair Fake Chapter Records
2004 DMBQ vs. Hysteric Glamour
2004 Hercules Hits (DMBQ Best)
2004 You Must Be Psychic (promo one-song EP from 2004 tour) released by the band as a CDR
2005 The Essential Sounds from the Far East Estrus Records

References

  1. ↑ MKCL-002 Fable of Thinnerlemon
  2. ↑ NEW YORK NIGHT TRAIN - issue 1: DMBQ FATAL VAN ACCIDENT
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